Olusegun Obasanjo recently took some time to think about an important event in his life. He remembered how important his late wife Stella Obasanjo was in getting him out of jail. During the military rule of General Sani Abacha, Obasanjo was detained on charges connected to an alleged coup plot. He spoke about how much he appreciated his wife’s hard work in trying to bring him home. During an event to open the 250-bed Stella Obasanjo Hospital in Benin, Edo State, which was named in honor of her, he talked about these thoughts.
During his time in prison under Abacha’s rule, Obasanjo talked about how his family and friends were always afraid of what would happen. He told them that he was finally let out of jail after Abacha’s death and the handover of power to General Abdulsalami Abubakar’s government. The main thing that made this happen, though, was Stella’s determined support. Obasanjo said that his late wife had done a lot to get him released, including going around the world to get support and talk to important people. She went to many places, like Vatican City and France, to talk to important people and make sure that everyone around the world knew about his situation.
“My late wife went everywhere to make sure I came out of prison alive,” he said, describing her love and the things she did to help him. Obasanjo said that no award or praise could fully show how much she had done. Her efforts were not only very important for his freedom, but they also saved his life. “I had it all coming out of prison,” he said, thinking about how much his wife helped him through a very rough time in his life and in politics.
Obasanjo told the people of Nigeria how thankful he was for the hospital that was built in honor of Stella. Obasanjo thought that the hospital project, which will give people in Edo State much-needed medical care, was a fitting way to honor the achievements of his late wife. He talked about how important she had been to his public life and political successes. He also said that she had been a constant source of strength and commitment for him while they were together. His words made him think of the important part she played in both his personal and business life: “I had a woman who made tremendous contributions to my achievements in public life.”
Obasanjo used the event to both honor the memory of his wife and praise Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki for his work in making the hospital a reality. He praised Obaseki for caring about health care and being able to finish such a big job. Obasanjo praised the governor for being a good leader and said that the hospital showed how well he had served the people of Edo State. “With this hospital, you’re assured of first-class treatment for any ailment,” Obasanjo said, stressing how important it was to give people the best medical care possible. He was sure that the governor had “started well and is finishing well,” which meant that he was happy with how the governor was doing in office.
In his speech, Obasanjo also talked about his work with former Governor John Odigie Oyegun, who he had known and worked closely with while he was president. He talked about Oyegun as a great public worker and brought up his time as a permanent secretary. Within his speech, the former president expressed his appreciation and thanks to those who had helped him during his time in office.
The opening of the hospital was both an honor to Stella Obasanjo’s life and a chance for the former president to show his pride in the ongoing work to make the lives of people in Edo State better. Obasanjo ended by wishing Governor Obaseki more luck and more things to do during his term. His words showed that he was very grateful to the people who had helped him along the way, both while he was in office and in the years after he got out of jail.
ALSO READ:
Before The Nominations Event In 2025, The Academy Announces Changes To The Categories
